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The Old Town of Prague (Czech: Staré město) is the oldest settlement on the right bank.

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Old Market Square with the Tyn cathedral and the Astronomical Clock

Crowds wait at the Astronomical Clock

The gate to the Charles Bridge

• Old Town Square is the center of eventful history of Prague. The Gothic, Renaissance and Baroque buildings were preserved here. The Historical Centre, including most of the city’s major sites, became a UNESCO-listed site in 1992.

• Jan Hus monument— That striking man standing atop a patina-green metal mountain in the center of Old Town Square is not Jesus, though he resembles him. It's Jan Hus, the great Czech religious reformer whose Hussite movement caused as much, if not more, friction within the Christian community as Martin Luther. The statue was erected on the 500th anniversary of his death (6 July 1915). Hus preached in the Bethlehem Church in Old Town and was himself not particularly radical, unlike some of the sects who followed him. He believed in Bibles written in the worshiper's language, in the importance of faith instead of a clergyman's intermediation with God - in other words, concepts which threatened the status quo. He was summoned to the Church's Council of Constance in Switzerland by representatives of the Emperor, and given a letter of safe conduct to get there and back. Like every member of the Habsburg family, before and after him, the Emperor was Catholic. After Hus refused to repent for his so-called sins and come back into the Church, he was burned at the stake, despite the promise of the Emperor.

• Astronomical Clock (also called Orloj)— The Astronomical Clock located on a side tower of the Old Town Hall (reasonably enough, on Old Town Square) is easy to find - just wait until a few minutes before the hour and look for a large group of tourists standing around waiting for something to happen! It also one of the most popular gathering places in Prague.

Built in 1410 and thought of as an example of 15th century hi-tech device, projected with participation of math and astronomy professor at Prague University. The mail dial is in principle mechanical astrolabe, showing not only the current time, but also the placement of Sun and Moon in Zodiac, phase of the moon, time of sunrise and sunset, length of astronomical night, time in old Bohemian hours, in unequal hours and other data. From gathering crowds, hardly anybody understands all data astronomical dial displays.

Then there is a slow-moving 12-month calendar with incredibly delicate, small figure paintings by 19th century Czech painter Josef Manes. Every day on the hour, the upper, glockenspiel-style section of the clock performs the same scene: Death waves an hourglass, the 12 apostles shuffle past small windows, and a rooster crows. After the hour strikes, a Turk wags his head.

Long after the Turks had ceased to be a threat in Central Europe, their use as an allegorical figure in genre paintings and other art continued. The Czechs often sided with the Hungarians in various battles against increasing imperial power as exercised by the ruling Habsburg family over their dominions, and though the Turks never occupied Prague as they did Budapest, both countries' artists used "the Turk" (a dark-complected figure, usually wearing a turban) to represent the dangers of the world, and especially threats to Christianity. In the astronomical clock, the Turk is meant to be the stranger.

There is a legend about the clock that states the original master builder of its interior clockworks was blinded by the King who commissioned it after the work was completed so the mechanic could never build such a wonderful clock for someone else.

• Municipal Hall - Nám. Republiky 5. ph 222 002 101. fax 222 002 100. email info@obecni-dum.cz [1]. The Obecní dům was built near the Powder Tower (a storage place for gunpowder and a major trade route entry into the city) on a site called King's Court where once a royal residence stood. In 1901, the Prague Civic Society made a proposal to city authorities to build a center for official and social Czech events. As happened so many other times in recent Prague history, the Czechs were trying to balance the grand buildings erected by the German-speaking community of Prague with suitable edifices of their own. The "German House" (now co-opted and renamed Slovanský dům, or Slavic House, on Na Příkopě street) and a German casino were enough to make the Czechs want a place of their own.

Lovers of Art Nouveau should bless the memories of the Prague Civic Society's officials, because the Obecní dům would become one of the most beautiful examples of Art Nouveau in Prague, filled with artwork by the best Czech artists of the day. Neo-Baroque, neo-Renaissance, Western and Oriental influences – all combined with traditional Czech Art Nouveau. This is what makes the Obecnàdum unique among many beautiful examples of Art Nouveau public buildings in Prague. While the exterior is impressive, the interior is both finely crafted and educational. Almost every prominent living Czech artist worked on the Obecní dům. Painters Mikoláš Aleš, Václav Jansa, Alfons Mucha, Jakub Obrovský, Jan Preisler, Josef Wenig, Karel Spillar, Max Švabinský, Josef Ullman, František Zenoek, and the sculptors Josef Maratka, Josef Václav Myslbek, Karel Novak, Ladislav Šaloun, František Uprka, Bohumil Kafka and Čeněk Vosmík carved out an astounding backdrop for the many historical events that would transpire here. Though their contributions are not conspicuously noted, in some cases (such as Alfons Mucha's Mayoral Hall) it is obviously which artist decorated what room.

• <see name="Convent of St Agnes" address="U Milosrdných 17" directions="" phone="" email="" fax="" url="" hours="" price="Admission: Full: 100Kč, Reduced: 50Kč, Family: 150Kč">The Anezsky klaster is the first Early Gothic building in Prague (founded 1234) - something notable in a city filled with amazingly well-preserved examples of Gothic architecture such as St Vitus, the Charles Bridge and the Powder Tower. Over the years the complex's convent, chapels and several churches deteriorated and in some cases, were completely destroyed. After Habsburg emperor Josef II's religious reforms, the convent was shut down in 1782 and converted into lodgings for the poor. St Anežka, (Sv. Anežka česká) who is pictured on the pink 50-crown banknote, is the patron saint of Bohemia and founder of the convent complex. She was a daughter of the ruling Premyslid family, but no wallflower in terms of her activism, intelligence and energy. St Francis of Assisi, after whom one of the churches in the complex is named, founded his religious order in 1209 without the sort of financial backing earlier orders had enjoyed. As communism was crumbling, the remaining religious leadership, decimated over years by Communism's anti-religious influence, lobbied the Vatican to finally declare Anežka a saint. This happened 12 November 1989, though Anežka's niece Elizabeth had started the process in 1328! Today, the convent is used to house part of the Czech National Gallery's collection. </see>

• <see name="Museum of Communism" address="Na Příkope 10" directions="" phone="+420 224 212 966" email="muzeum@muzeumkomunismu.cz" fax="" url="http://www.muzeumkomunismu.cz" hours="Hours: Daily 9AM-9PM excluding December 24" price="Admission: Adults: 180Kč, Students with ID: 140Kč, Children (under 10 with paying adult): Free">A interesting museum that follows the history of communism in Czech Republic until it's fall with the Velvet Revolution. The museums has several interesting communist propaganda artifacts, which are worth a look. </see>

• <see name="Mucha Museum" address="Kaunický palác, Panská 7" directions="" phone="+420 224 216 415" email="info@mucha.cz" fax="" url="http://www.mucha.cz" hours="Hours: 10AM-6PM" price="">This museum is dedicated to the life and works of Alphonse Mucha, a leading artist in the Art Nouveau movement. </see>

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METROPOL RESTAURANT, COCKTAIL BAR & LIVE MUSIC CLUB

Live music every evening from 8pm, featuring the best bands in town in an elegant, up-scale ambiente. Excellent food at reasonable prices. Speciality are Indian vegetarian and non-vegetarian dishes. Also delicious desserts, e.g. the best tiramisú in town.

Mondays: ...... Lee Davidson Swing Trio

Tuesdays:........Chicago Blues with Stan the Man

Wednesdays:....Music of the 70s, 80s, 90s, from Sting to Freddy Mercury

Thursdays:.......Brazilian Bossa & Samba

Fri & Sat:.........Salsa Party with Cuban Live Band and dancing until morning

Sundays:..........French & Russian Chansons with Oleg & Yves, the legendary Rhaspody duo

Entrance free. Weekend parties 100Kc / 5 Euro

Address: Na Porici 12, Praha1. 100m from Namesty Republiky.

http://www.metropol-prague.com

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• <drink name="Meloun" alt="" address="Michalská 12" directions="" phone="+420 224 230 126" url="http://www.meloun.cz/klub/" hours="11AM-3AM" price="" lat="" long="">Atmospheric club minutes from Old Town Square. There is a karaoke night every Wednesday with Czech and English music. There is a small cover charge for entry.</drink>
• <drink name="AghaRTA Jazz Centrum" alt="" address="Železna 16" directions="" phone="+420 222 211 275" email="info@agharta.cz" url="http://www.agharta.cz/aghaprog.htm" hours="Daily 7PM-1AM, live music from 9PM-midnight" price="" lat="" long="">AghaRTA is another well known jazz club, and organizer of the Prague Jazz Festival [2].</drink>

• <drink name="Akord Jazz Club" alt="" address="V celnici 4" directions="" phone="+420 774 101 091" email="klub@akord-jazz.com" url="http://www.akord-jazz.com/" hours="" price="The entrance fee is payed in the bar when you buy something to drink. Around 300Kč, half price for student with ISICcards. Tap-beer around 50Kč." lat="" long="">A cosy jazz bar in the basement. Concerts every night of different quality.</drink>

• <drink name="Al Capone's Coctail Bar" alt="" address="Bartolomějská 3" directions="" phone="+420 224 212 192" url="http://www.alcapones.cz" hours="M-Th 5PM-2AM, F-Sa 6PM-3AM, Su 6PM-midnight" price="Beer 25Kč-70Kč, cocktails 45Kč-80Kč" lat="" long="">Al Capone's is a small and family-like bar, located in the very centre, with acceptable prices.</drink>

• <drink name="Alcohol Bar" alt="" address="Dusni 6" directions="" phone="+420 224 811 744" url="http://www.alcoholbar.cz" hours="" price="" lat="" long="">Has one of the largest selections of drinks in the city, they have an extensive cocktail menu that's so big they have some copies in hardback.</drink>

• <drink name="Chateau Rouge" alt="" address="Jakubská 2" directions="" phone="+420 222 316 328" url="http://www.chateaurouge.cz/en/index.php" hours="" price="free entry" lat="50.088306" long="14.424917">Free 3-floor club in the old town. Plenty of tourists, including Americans, to be found any night of the week. Staropramen on tap.</drink>

• <drink name="Fat Boy's Bar" alt="" address="Malá Štupartská 5" directions="" phone="+420 721 737 588" url="" hours="" price="Gambrinus 40Kč, Pilsner 55Kč" lat="" long="">Australian-style bar.</drink>

• <drink name="Karlovy lázně" alt="" address="Smetanovo nábřeží 198" directions="" phone="+420 222 220 502" email="info@karlovylazne.cz" url="http://www.karlovylazne.cz/" hours="" price="" lat="" long="">This self-styled "biggest music club in Central Europe" is right next to Charles Bridge, with 5 floors of clubs each featuring a different style of music. It is frequented by Czech teenagers and German high school students. There are security guards at the door who search entering patrons. It is more often than not incredibly dirty and filled with very young males.</drink>

• <drink name="Music Club Zlatý Strom" alt="" address="Karlova 6" directions="" phone="+420 222 220 441" url="http://club.zlatystrom.com/" hours="Daily 8PM-6AM" price="Free entry for women" lat="" long="">Lively half dance club, half go-go club. Watch out for the bucket mojito cocktails for 599Kč!</drink>

• <drink name="Roxy" alt="" address="Dlouhá 33" directions="" phone="+420 224 826 296" url="http://www.roxy.cz" hours="" price="" lat="" long="">The Roxy has raunchy and less raunchy club nights, experimental cinema and free internet access when buying a coffee.</drink>

• <drink name="U Zlatého Tygra (The Golden Tiger Pub)" alt="" address="Husova 17" directions="" phone="" url="http://www.uzlatehotygra.cz/uvod_e.htm" hours="3PM-11PM daily" price="" lat="" long="">If you aren't easily scared off by smoke so thick you can touch and mean-looking Czechs that look like they would rather shake you than share a table, then this place is a must-stop. It is almost always crowded to standing capacity but if you stop by just before closing during the week, you can usually grab a table next to a local or knowledgeable expat and have some great Pilsner Urquell for 34Kč a half liter, a price that is almost charitably low for the city center. There's also a simple menu of snacks and mains for around 35Kč-90Kč. Check the picture on the wall- that's President Bill Clinton drinking here. Favored hangout of the late Czech author Bohumil Hrabal, whose bronze bust stands watch over the heads of patrons.</drink>

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• Hilton Prague Old Town, V Celnici 7, 110 00 Prague 1, Tel: +420 221 822 100, Fax: +420 221 822 100[3]. Centrally-based hotel in the heart of all the tourist attractions around Old Town Square, Wenceslas Square and Charles Bridge. For shopping, it is 5 minutes walk from Palladium - a big shopping center. There are a total of 305 guest rooms, including 20 suites. Hilton Prague Old Town is also home to Gordon Ramsey's maze Prague restaurant that is open throughout the day. Kosher food is available.

• Intercontinental Prague, Náměstí Curieových 43 / 5, Praha 1, ph 296 631 111, fax 224 811 216. email prague@interconti.com [4]. One of the older Western hotels in Prague, the Intercontinental is located very close to the center. Double rooms are approximately €160 per night.

• Pension U Medvídků (literally: at the bear cubs), Na Perstyne 7, Praha 1, tel. +420 224 211 916, info@umedvidku.cz [5]. U Medvídků is a great deal and only 5 minutes walk from Old Town Square. The pension is built on the site of an old brewery that is now a Czech Budweiser (Budvar) restaurant and the pension building houses a brewing museum and shop. It is also connected to a smaller bar that is open until 3am. The rooms are clean and atmospheric. Ask for a room at the very top (#43 is a good pick) to avoid street/restaurant noise. Rates are seasonal but start from around 1550Kč/2300Kč/3100Kč per night for singles/doubles/triples off peak. Add an extra 10% if you want one of the beautifully restored historical rooms.

• Prague Residences [6]. Selection of apartments in Prague 1 (Old Town, New Town and Lesser Town) all with a high standard.

• Residence Masná, Masná 5, Prague 1 (Old Town), tel. +420 246 087 300, info@masna-apartment-house.cz[7]. Located in a quiet street close to the Municipal House and the Powder Tower. Prices vary from 60€ for a studio in the low season to over 100€ for an apartment in the high season.

• Residence Rybná [8]. Residence Rybná is a 500-year-old building formerly called At The Red Horse, rebuilt in the 19th century in the late classicist style. It was renovated and refurnished recently to accommodate most modern needs and to offer great luxury, while keeping its ancient atmosphere. There are one-, two- and three-bedroom apartments available. Prices are quite high (100€ to 250€ per apartment), but its excellent location (next to Old Town Square), friendly professional staff and mystique feeling of the whole place make it worth it.

• The U Prince [9]. Facing the Astronomical Clock, this hotel has comfortable beds and beautiful marble bathrooms. The Terrace Bar has a spectacular view of the city and Old Town Square and the U Prince Restaurant has great food with breakfasts that are comparable to the U.S. You can’t get a better location in Prague. The rates are moderate.

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